Video transcript
In teaching, just like in life, there’s no one ‘right’ way to do things. So, taking teaching vocabulary as an example, let’s look at three different ways to get the job done.
I’m Jo Gakonga. I’ve been teaching since 1989- yes, that makes me feel a bit old- and I’ve been training teachers on CELTA and MA TESOL programs for 25 of those years. If you’re new here, I also run a website at ELT-Training.com, where I create video-based materials for teachers at all stages of their careers. If you find this video helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and check out the site. I make a new video every week.
Every classroom is different, and what works well for one teacher might not be the best approach for another but here are three ways to introduce vocabulary. Which one resonates with you most?
1. Tell Them What It Means: The Dictionary Definition
Sometimes, the simplest approach is to just give students the dictionary definition of a word. It can be a great starting point for building vocabulary and autonomy. You could get THEM to look it up. Some of the problems? Sometimes bi-lingual translations can be misleading; there might not be a direct one-to-one correlation between meanings in L1- their first language- and English; and definitions in monolingual dictionaries can be tricky to understand.
2. Give Them a Translation
For students who share the same first language and a teacher who speaks it, providing a translation can be a quick and effective way to convey meaning. It’s straightforward and efficient and especially useful at lower levels. The difficulty can be that this becomes a crutch that isn’t removed when it could be and it can reduce the potential exposure to English that’s so important.
3. Elicit It
Another powerful method is to make a ‘word-shaped hole’ and try to elicit the word to fill it.
Here’s an example. This word means something I like more than anything else. I like all kinds of ice cream, but I LOVE rum and raisin more than any other ice-cream. It’s my ________________.
Do you know? Great. Can you give me a sentence with this word?
Even if they don’t know the word and can’t tell you, you can ‘fill the hole’ for them… It’s my favourite… and it helps them understand the word better and shows them how to use it in real-life situations.
If you’ve got other favourite techniques for teaching vocabulary, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! And don’t forget to visit ELT-Training.com for more tips, ideas, and resources to help you become the best teacher you can be. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video!
